I am currently furnishing a condo that my husband and I purchased in Charleston more than 12 years ago but have never inhabited. Initially, we bought it for our daughter to live in while she attended the College of Charleston. After she moved out, we continued renting it to MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) students. Recently, we decided it was time to finally take it over and use it for ourselves.

I wanted to design this condo a bit differently from our current home, aiming for a more fun and vibrant design. The condo isn't large—it's a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit with a small porch. While I love coastal design, I wanted to incorporate some coastal elements without going overboard. I am also drawn to Palm Beach vibes and bright colors, as long as they are done in a sophisticated way.

During a short weekend visit, I began my search for design inspiration in Mount Pleasant. My first stop was the Ballard's Store, where I discovered they were having a floor sample sale. I absolutely fell in love with a round scalloped table that was priced at $779, down from its usual $1299. They often have sales, so you could likely get it for even less.

My next stop was Mount Pleasant Mall - where there are more than 100 vendors showcasing furniture, accessories, antiques, vintage collectibles and so much more.

I found a great vendor called “Hello Cutie Furniture” that carried both modern and vintage furniture and a lot of painted pieces from quality brands like Lexington, Ethan Allen and Henredon. How cute is this dresser and two nightstands?

I loved this booth that had more of the Palm Beach style!

Here are a few more fun vintage finds!

After leaving there, I went to a very fun place called Modern Manor, another store with several vendors. This one had fine antiques from Paris, lots of linen apparel from Italy, print dresses from India, home decor, lighting, art, makeup and garden decor. It’s right across the street from the iconic Boone Hall. I fell in love with these rattan headboards that I will probably have lacquered in a coral or navy blue!

Here are more images of this adorable shop! If you are in the area, it is such a fun shopping experience!

Needless to say there was LOTS of inspiration! I recently found this rug and think I’m going to use this as my jump off for the entire condo. This is from a seller on Etsy called TheRugHomeDecor.

Stay tuned for updates and follow along on “Decorating the Condo” Kandrac & Kole style!!

Charleston decor shopping on a budget additional resources:

Check out our recent podcast with recommendations about what to do and see in Charleston: THE INSIDE SCOOP – LET’S TAKE A TRIP TO CHARLESTON!

Charleston budget decor shopping spots mentioned above:

Ballard's Store – Tip: Check for sales and floor sample sales

Mount Pleasant Mall – Resale and Antique Co-op Mall

Modern Manor – 50 unique boutiques under one roof

TheRugHomeDecor – Etsy shop